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Following 16 years after his initial cap, Adil Rashid could be forgiven for tiring of the international cricket treadmill. Currently in New Zealand for his 35th global T20 event, he describes that busy, routine existence while discussing the team-bonding mini‑break in Queenstown that launched England’s winter tour: “Occasionally, such chances are rare when constantly traveling,” he says. “You land, you train, you play and you travel.”

But his zeal is evident, not just when he discusses the near-term prospects of a side that seems to be flourishing guided by Harry Brook and his own place in it, but also when watching Rashid train, play or bowl. Although he managed to halt New Zealand’s progress as they attempted to chase down England’s record‑breaking 236 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Monday night, as his four-wicket spell claimed almost all of their top five batsmen, he cannot do anything to stop time.

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Rashid will turn 38 in February, during the T20 World Cup’s middle phase. By the time the next one‑day international version is played towards the end of 2027 he’ll be close to 40. His close pal and current podcast partner Moeen Ali, just a few months his senior, ended his international cricket career last year. But Rashid remains integral: that four-wicket performance raised his annual count to 19, six more than any other Englishman. Only three English bowlers have taken so many T20 international wickets in a calendar year: Graeme Swann in 2010, Sam Curran in 2022, and Rashid in 2021, 2022, 2024 and now 2025. But no plans exist for conclusion; his concentration is on overcoming foes, not ending his journey.

“Totally, I retain the appetite, the craving to feature for England and symbolize my nation,” Rashid says. “From my view, that’s the greatest success in all sports. That fervor for England persists within me. In my opinion, if the enthusiasm diminishes, or something similar, that’s when you think: ‘OK, right, let’s have a real think about it’. At the moment I haven’t really thought of anything else. I’ve got that passion, there’s a lot of cricket to be played.

“I desire to join this team, this group we have currently, on the next journey we have, which hopefully will be nice and I want to be part of it. Ideally, we can taste success and claim World Cups, everything excellent. And I await hopefully joining that expedition.

“We are unaware of what will occur. Around the corner things can change very quickly. It’s very unpredictable, life and cricket. I prefer to remain in the moment – one match at a time, one stage at a time – and let things unfold, see where cricket and life takes me.”

In many ways this is no time to be thinking of endings, but rather of beginnings: a renewed side with a changed leader, a changed mentor and new vistas. “We’re on that journey,” Rashid says. “A handful of fresh members exist. Certain individuals have left, others have arrived, and that’s merely part of the process. However, we hold expertise, we contain new blood, we include elite performers, we employ Brendon McCullum, a superb mentor, and each person supports our objectives. Certainly, there will be obstacles during the journey, that’s typical in cricket, but we are undoubtedly concentrated and fully attentive, for whatever lies ahead.”

The wish to arrange that Queenstown visit, and the hiring of ex-All Blacks mental coach Gilbert Enoka, suggests there is a particular focus on creating something more from this group of players than just an XI. and Rashid feels this is a distinct asset of McCullum’s.

“We sense we are a cohesive group,” he says. “We experience a familial atmosphere, supporting one another irrespective of performance, whether your day is positive or negative. We’re trying to make sure we stick to our morals in that way. Let’s make sure we stick together, that unity we have, that brotherhood.

“It’s a nice thing to have, everybody’s got each other’s backs and that’s the atmosphere Baz and we aim to establish, and we have built. And ideally, we shall, irrespective of performance outcomes.

“Baz is very relaxed, chilled out, but he is sharp in his mentoring role, he is focused in that aspect. And he wants to create that environment. Certainly, we are at ease, we are cool, but we ensure that once we enter the field we are concentrated and we are competing fully. Much praise belongs to Baz for forming that atmosphere, and ideally, we can sustain that for an extended period.”